On February 2–6, 2026, the 18th (renewed) and 19th sessions of the Working Group on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) as well as the 33rd session of the PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation were held in Geneva (Swiss Confederation).
The Ukrainian delegation at the headquarter of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was represented by:
Representatives of Ukraine Bogdan Paduchak (second from left) and Ramiz Ramazanov (second from right)
during a meeting with Habip Asan, Director of the TDC Division, WIPO and the colleagues
One of the key results of the Committee’s work was the adoption of a recommendation to the PCT Union Assembly to the extension of the appointment of all existing International Searching Authorities (ISAs) and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs), including the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO).
As stated by Olena Orliuk, Director of UANIPIO, the status of an international PCT Authority has a strategic importance for Ukraine’s integration and development in the global innovation ecosystem:
“UANIPIO demonstrates full institutional readiness to continue to effectively perform the functions of an ISA and IPEA, ensuring the stability, quality and reliability of international patent services even in the face of unprecedented challenges posed by russian federation war of aggression against Ukraine.”
During the consideration of Ukraine’s application, it was confirmed that UANIPIO complies with all the requirements of the PCT and its Regulations regarding personnel, technical, organizational and quality criteria for the functioning of international bodies.
Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of UANIPIO, presented the Committee with an application, which specifically mentioned the availability of a sufficient number of experts with technical education in key areas (chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, mechanical engineering, electronics, information technology, telecommunications, physics, materials science), whose average work experience is about 18 years (one of the highest indicators in the world, according to World IP Indicators 2025), as well as information about the availability of specialized education in the field of intellectual property and a sufficient level of English proficiency for all experts to work in PCT procedures.
The maintenance and development of professional competence of experts is ensured by systematic participation in training programs of the WIPO Academy, educational and electronic courses of the European Patent Office (EPO Academy), internal seminars and specialized training courses on patent search and examination, as well as through constant access to up-to-date legal and technical materials via local examination systems.
Full and stable access to the PCT minimum documentation was also confirmed, the results of verification of the electronic repository for access to patent information through the Special Information System (SIS UANIPIO) to the new PCT requirements, as well as the use of leading international patent search and scientific databases, in particular ANSERA (EPO), Questel Orbit, PatBase, Reaxys, STNext and Research4Life, which ensures conducting high-quality international searches.
The UANIPIO quality management system is fully compliant with the requirements of Chapter 21 Common Quality Framework for International Search and Preliminary Examination, certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and confirmed by the results of a surveillance audit in 2025, which ensures consistent compliance with international quality standards in the implementation of ISA and IPEA functions.
During the 33rd session of the Committee, the Ukrainian delegation ensured that Ukraine’s fundamental position on the unacceptability of the extension of appointment of the international bodies of the aggressor state and relevant intergovernmental structures was recorded. Ukraine dissociated itself from the consensus on the extension of the appointment of the federal service for intellectual property of the russian federation and the Eurasian Patent Office as ISA/IPEA which was reflected in the relevant decisions of the Committee session.
While presenting the position of the Ukrainian delegation Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of UANIPIO, noted that “it is based on Ukraine’s principled and consistent position that a state that has initiated and continues to wage a war of aggression in blatant violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law cannot be entrusted with functions that imply a high level of institutional trust, responsibility and credibilitywithin the PCT system and the United Nations.”
Bogdan Paduchak
During the 19th session of the PCT Working Group, the Ukrainian delegation made a statement condemning russian federation war of aggression against Ukraine, emphasizing its devastating consequences for civilian infrastructure and intellectual property and called for ensuring the international responsibility of the aggressor state.
“Recent russian missile and drone attacks have intensified their focus on Ukraine’s energy and critical infrastructure, including in the capital Kyiv, where severe strikes on the power grid have left many without heat amid extremely cold weather. Following the attack on 24 January, over 6,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv remained without heating,” noted Bogdan Paduchak.
Ukraine’s position received broad international support. In particular, the United Kingdom issued a statement of solidarity on behalf of like-minded countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Republic of Albania, as coordinator of the CEBS group, also confirmed its support for Ukraine and condemnation of russian federation war of aggression against Ukraine.
The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the meetings contributed to strengthening Ukraine’s position in the PCT system, adequately representing national interests and preparing for further consideration of relevant issues during the meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO in July 2026.
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